Floating-thread cutter



INVENToR,

Morris Leisten ATTORNEYS.

March 29,1927.

M. Lr-:lsTER FLOATING THREAD CUTTER Filed NOV. 8, 1926 Patented Mar. 29, `1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MORRIS LEIS'IER, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WEINERTH KNITTING AND MACHINE COMPANY, INC., OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed November My invention relates to floating-thread cutter devices such as thatshown in the patent to George S. l/Veinerth, No. 1,038,695, is sued November 30, 1897, and adapted more particularly for severing the interior fioat threads 4of double-soled and high-spliced hosiery commonly left at the completion of the knitting operation on circular knitting machines.

And more particularly my improvements comprise novel means for momentarily increasing the tensioning of the float thread at the time of severing the same to facilitate such cutting along a line determinedly spaced close to the point where such floats enter into the knitted fabric; and further to adjustably var y the exterior` diameter of the hose supporting tube with relation to the cutter devices so as to permit proper cutting of float threads of hosiery having double soles and high splicings of varying diametral eX- tent.

With these and other objects in view, as will appear later, my invention comprises the improved structure more fully described in the following specification. and shown in the drawing accompanying the same, the novel features thereof being specifically set forth in the subjoined claims.

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a float thread cutter device embodying my improve` ments.

Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the same taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4t are respectively a vertical .sectional view and front elevation of my improved diameter-increasing member.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing more clearly the mechanism disposed within the hosiery supporting tube.

In float-thread cutters of this type, as well understood, the tubular hose is pulled down over the supporting tube 5, with the float threads guided by the converging edges 6, 6, of the upper end of said tube so as to enter the oppositely disposed vertical' slots 7 7; a usual tensioning spring member 8 tauting such transverse floats and causing them to lie close to the fiXed knife edges 9, 9. When thus positioned handle lever 10 is operated to rock its arms 11, 11, and the latter cooperatively actuate movable knife edges 12, 12 across fixed knife edges 9, 9, to sever said floating threads in an even line adjacent the FLOATING-THREAD CUTTER.

8, 1926. Serial N0. 146,973.

points where they enter into the knitted fabric.

The known eut-ter mechanism, above briefly described, works with entire satisfaction as long as the runs of hosiery have substantially the same` diameter and fabrictension, and equal widths of the reenforced portions. Fabric tensions vary however, and when a fixed degree of tension is given member 8, it may be found in sufficient in some `cases to properly taut the floats or equally aline their points of entry into the knitted fabric, resulting in uncut floats and a ragged uneven line of severance making an unsightly and imperfect finish; or when member 8 is too taut, it may draw the knitted fabric into the slots 7, 7, so that the shearing line will be too close or even cut the fabric. Also in hosiery now made the widths of the double sole and highsplice are frequently reduced to comply with present demands, so that a fixed location of the slots 7, 7, with relation to the diameter will not answer. To overcome this, as later herein more fully described, I provide a diameter-enlarging member which may be applied to the supporting tube 5 and adjusted thereon with relation to said slots; `and further I give a minimum tension to the member 8, and provide adjustable means for momentarily increasing its tension to a determined extent at the time of cutting so as to give just the right tautness to the float thread fclir the desired cutting thereof at the proper p ace.

In the drawings the lever 10 is shown as secured exterisorly to a shaft 15 mounted transversely in the tube 5, said shaft carrv ing, inside said tube, the arms 11, 11 iiXedly positioned by screws 16, 16, which arms operate the knife edges 12, 12, and spring 17 retains said knife edges in normally open position indicated. Intermediately mount ed on the shaft 15, and secured thereto by screw 18, is shown an additional arm 20 having a pivotal post 21 rotatably secured in the upper end thereof; and said post carries an arm 22, held by screw 23 in longitudinally adjusted position, with its lower end 24 lying in the path of an adjustable stop screw 25 carried by arm 20. The upper end of arm 22 is adapted, when shaft 15 is rocked by lever 10, to swing into contact with and move tensioning member 8, as den u l termined by the set position of Stop screiv 25, access to the latter being had through wall aperture 26 in tube 5. The preferred construction thus described provides for determinedly increasing the tauting tension of member 8 as the arms ll, 11 operates to operate the knife-edges l2, l2.

Figs. 8 and l show separately the preferred means employed to increase the diameter of main tube 5, and com-prises a di- :funeter-increasing plate 30 extending longitudinally of said main tube at one side thereof intermediate the longitudinal slots 7, 7 said plate being secured to the main tube, as shown, by screws 3l, and spaced from the latter, if desired, by washers 32. The thickness of the washers 3? will determine the proper location of the floats in slots 7, 7; and the added tension of member 8, through arm 22, is adjusted in accordance with the position of plate 30, which latter is set for a determined run of hosiery.

It will be noti-eed that the slots 7, 7 are not centrally located, as the high splice and sole reinforcements are commonly of less than half the diameter of the' tubular hose fabric. Plate 30 provides forv variations in such narrowings of the high splice and sole reinforcements; but it Will be understood it may be applied to the 'opposite' side of tube 5 to provide for Wider reinforcements if desired.

My improvements thus fully described adapt my cutter for a great variety of widths of reinforced hosiery, and insure the desired alined cutting of the float threads at? the proper points adjacent their entry into the knitted fabric, as insured by the adjusted momentary increase in the tension of member S at the time of cuttin-g.

What I claim l. A float-thread cutter mechanism for tubular hosiery comprising a longitudinally slotted tubular member, shearing devices adjacent the slotted portions thereof, a floatthread tensioning member Within said tubular member, and means for simultaneously operating said shearing devices and increasing the tensioning action of said float-thread member.

2. A float-thread cutter mechanism for tubular hosiery comprising` a longitudinally slotted tubular member, shearing devices adjacent the slotted portions thereof, a iioatthread tensioning member Within said tubular member, and an operating lever having shear arms and a. tensioning arm adapted to simultaneously actuate said shearing device and tol increase the tensioning action of said float-thread member.

3. A float-thread cutter mechanism for tubular hosiery comprising a longitudinally slotted tubular member, shearing devices adjacent the slotted portions thereof, a floatthread tensioning member Within said tubular member, and an operating lever having shear arms and an adjustably-positioncd lensioning-arm adapted to simultaneously actuate said shearing devices and detcrminedly increase the tensioning action of said floatt-hread member.

4l. A float-thread cutter mechanism for tubular hosiery comprising a longitudinallyslotted tubular member having an interior float-thread tensioning member and interior lever actuated shearing devices adjacent the slotted portions thereof, and an exterior longitudinally-extending diameter-increasing member positioning on said tubular member midway of said longitudinal slots and in adjusted diametral relation to the latter.

5. A float-thread cutter mechanism for tubular hosiery comprising a longitudinallyslotted tubular member having an interior float-thread tensioning member and interior shearing devices adjacent the slotted portions thereof, an exterior longitudinally-extending diameter-increasing member positioned yon said tubular member midway of said longitudinal slots and in adjusted diametral relation to the latter, and an operating lever having interior arms adapted to simultaneously actuate said shearing devices and determinedly increase the tensioning action. of said float-thread member in proportion With the adjusted position of said exterior diameter-increasing member.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature.

MORRIS LEISTER. 

